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Dioxane…the chemical of the hour

Halloween and pregnancy have slowed me down a bit these last few days but good news…Jack’s diapers do not leak overnight! He is 2 1/2 but his diapers are still wet when he wakes up in the morning. Both of the inserts were wet but his skin was mostly dry and best of all, nothing leaked from the cover! This is great news for me since I am still hoping to only have to use pre-folds and Flip diapers and inserts on my babies. I like everything that has occurred so far. I will say that he has not had a poopie in his Flip diapers yet but I wonder if that is because of his age and the fact that he only goes once every other day…as well as the fact that he is aware of how different they feel and may be purposefully holding it in. But, only time will tell.

I read an interesting article today referred to me by a friend and saw that Johnson & Johnson is finally being exposed a little about the chemicals that are found in their products. Dioxane is one of those chemicals that is found in these baby personal care products which is also a chemical that is found in disposable diapers. Here is some information I found on the EPA’s website that gives a detailed definition/description of dioxane:

Hazard Summary-Created in April 1992; Revised in January 2000

1,4-Dioxane is used as a solvent. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure to high levels of 1,4-dioxane has caused vertigo, drowsiness, headache, anorexia and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs in humans. It may also irritate the skin. Damage to the liver and kidneys has been observed in rats chronically (long-term) exposed in their drinking water. In three epidemiologic studies on workers exposed to 1,4-dioxane, the observed number of cancer cases did not differ from the expected cancer deaths. Tumors have been observed in orally exposed animals. EPA has classified 1,4-dioxane as a Group B2, probable human carcinogen.

So hopefully as people become aware of the possible danger(s) of dioxane they will thoroughly research products such as disposable diapers that contain this chemical. I find it interesting that dioxane can cause irritation to the skin and when considering sensitive baby skin, it would seem even more important to use products on babies that do not contain this chemical. I am glad that I use Arbonne products that contain no harmful chemicals or even mineral oil in them and they have all but rid my son of his eczema. I wonder now that he will be in cloth diapers for most of the time, if that will also help with any redness that may occur near his diaper area.